SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University softball team posted 23 runs Saturday, but Adams State University and Black Hills State University would be able to score one more than the Lady Mustangs in each game with the Grizzlies winning 11-10 in eight innings and the Yellow Jackets with a 14-13 win in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.

Offense was plentiful from the get go in the opener against ASU (24-23, 22-15 RMAC) with the Grizzlies plating three in the opening inning. WNMU (16-35, 14-24 RMAC) wouldn't take long to respond as junior Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) and senior Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) walked. Following a pair of outs, sophomore Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) cashed in with a ringing home run to center for a three-run shot to tie the game at three after one.

The Lady Mustangs would again answer an ASU run in the top of the inning with their own in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) doubled and after a sacrifice bunt moved her to third, Higgins singled up the middle to knot the game at four.

The Grizzlies held a 5-4 lead through the third and then into the bottom of the fourth when sophomore Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) hit one to shortstop that was mishandled allowing freshman Kylie Christman (Litchfield Park, AZ/Millennium) to score after opening the inning with a double.

WNMU then took control in the fifth. Senior Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) walked and after two quick outs followed, a two out rally started with a double by Christman that scored freshman pinch-runner Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad). Enriquez would single and later steal second to put runners on second and third in time for a double by Castillo to left to score both for an 8-5 lead. Castillo would later come in on a fielding error to make it a 9-5 lead after five.

ASU then came to life in the seventh. A pair of two-run home runs helped the Grizzlies tie the game and send it into extras. ASU continued with the long ball, as a two-run shot in the eighth gave the Grizzlies an 11-9 lead.

In the home half, McDonald connected on a solo homer with one out to left-center, but that would be the only run in the inning as ASU held on for the 11-10 victory.

ASU held a 13-10 advantage in hits as Christman and Enriquez each posted two hits. Othon and Castillo posted three RBI. Carly DeLorenzo, Erika Ecsedy, Erica Haugum and Jennie Archambault led ASU with three hits apiece. Morgan McWilliams (8-5) grabbed the win pitching the final three innings and allowing one earned run. Sophomore Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) started and pitched one inning, while senior Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan) (5-17) tossed the final seven innings.

After ASU and BHSU played each other in a neutral site game, the Yellow Jackets and Lady Mustangs combined for 27 runs and 33 hits in the nightcap.

BHSU (3-34, 2-26 RMAC) started early just like ASU with three in the first frame. Higgins answered right away with a leadoff homer in the home half making it a 3-1 lead for the Yellow Jackets after one.

After BHSU went ahead 4-1 in the second, the Lady Mustangs rolled up seven runs in the home half. Freshman Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) worked a full-count walk and then came home right away as the next batter junior Alexis Lawton (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) smoked a homer to center for a two-run shot. Higgins and McDonald would add singles, with McDonald's being a bunt that brought in Castillo. Senior Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) added an RBI single just in time for Othon to groove another three-run homer to right to cap the seven-run inning and an 8-4 lead.

In the third, WNMU was back on the attack. With Lawton on via an error, she would come home on a two out RBI single by McDonald. Gahn added an RBI hit of her own to bring in Castillo who walked. McDonald concluded the inning scoring on a wild pitch to give WNMU an 11-4 lead after three.

The Yellow Jackets refused to go away, tallying five runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to take a 14-11 lead.

Higgins came through with a big two out hit in the home half of the sixth as she doubled to left-center to score Lawton and senior Breanna Diaz (Las Cruces, NM/Mayfield) to leave the lead at one for BHSU, 14-13, heading to the seventh.

Shone would allow just one hit in the inning, but the Lady Mustangs would go down in order to end the game.

BHSU held a 20-13 edge in hits as Higgins and McDonald, batting in the top two slots in the order, posted three hit games. Higgins and Othon led the way with three RBI. Katie Campo and Katherine Drake had four hits each for the Yellow Jackets. Brooke Grant (1-0) collected the win for BHSU lasting five innings and giving up two earned runs. Four Lady Mustangs pitched as freshman Breanna Aker (El Mirage, AZ/Apollo) started and tossed 1.2 innings. Sophomore Chyler Imai (Kapaau, HI/Kohala) then went the next two innings before Taynton went 2.1 innings and Shone closed out the game.

WNMU will close the 2014 campaign on Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. against Black Hills State and then at 3 p.m. against Adams State. The seven Lady Mustang seniors will be honored prior to the final game at 3 p.m.